Columbus Bar Association 2012 Annual Meeting

This Friday, June 15, at noon is the Annual Meeting of the Columbus Bar Association (CBA). Current CBA President, David Bloomfield will preside and be sworn in as Immediate-Past President. Brad Wrightsel will be sworn in as President, and Mark Petrucci will be sworn in as President-Elect. Keith Schneider will be sworn in as Secretary-Treasurer.

Board members who were re-elected for a second term are Jennifer Adair, Aaron Granger, and Jay Michael. The newly elected board members are  Jim Abrams, Stephanie Hanna and LeeAnn Massucci. These board members will join the following board members: Jack Guttenberg, Brigid Heid, Sandra McIntosh, Lisa Pierce Reisz, and Gregory Travalio.

The Executive Director of the CBA is Jill Snitcher-McQuain.

Blogging for Lawyers

On April 19, 2011, from noon to 1:00 P.M., the CBA will be presenting a basic course on Blogging for Lawyers. This discussion will cover the pros and cons of undertaking the creation of a blog. More information can be found here at the CBA website.

How to Avoid Guardianships (and When Not to)

Here is a link to a recent article that I wrote for the Columbus Bar Association, appearing in April 2010's Columbus Bar News Bytes.

Trust Mills Beware

For many years, estate planning attorneys, bar associations and the Ohio Legislature have warned citizens to beware of Trust Mills. Now the Ohio Supreme court has sent a message to Trust Mills to beware of operating in Ohio. A Trust Mill is a company that has agents pushing a “one-type fits all” trust form for a substantial price. Trust Mills often focus on the elderly with scare tactics such as brochures and mailings warning that even modest estates will be consumed by estate taxes and probate fees. In most instances, the victims of Trust Mills never speak with an attorney.

The Ohio Supreme Court in its decision, Columbus Bar Assn. v. Am. Family Prepaid Legal Corp., imposed a $6.4 Million civil penalty against a California Trust Mill operating in Ohio. The penalty is also against the two owners of the Trust Mill, American Family Prepaid Legal Corporation. The Supreme Court decision does a very good job of laying out how these companies operate.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has a report on the decision, Court Fines 2 Cos. $6.4M for Unauthorized Law Practice, Bans Them From State. The Columbus Dispatch reported on the decision, Companies that duped thousands of Ohio senior citizens fined $6.4 million. The Associated Press has an article, $6.4M fine in Ohio for illegal practice of law.

The Probate Law Institute (PLI) is in “Must See” Category

The Columbus Bar Association’s 15^thAnnual Probate Law Institute (PLI) is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2009.  What does the PLI have to offer?  How about two probate judges, the Ohio Attorney General and several knowledgeable estate planning and probate experts.  Our newly elected Franklin County Probate Judge Eric Brown will kickoff the Institute and Lucas County Probate Judge Jack Puffenberger will present the statutory and case law update.  Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray is the keynote speaker.  If you are a probate practitioner, this is an Institute that you do not want to miss.

Probate Law Institute (PLI) Agenda Set - Part II Medicaid Update

The Columbus Bar Association’s 15^th Annual Probate Law Institute (PLI) is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2009.  The Planning Board has finalized the agenda and this year’s event promises to be one of the best ever.  Richard T. Taps is a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, an author and a well known Medicaid expert.  Mr. Taps topic is "Medicaid Update for Nursing Home and PASSPORT Eligibility."  His presentation will cover court decisions, administrative appeal decisions, and state hearing decisions for the period of March 1, 2008 to  March 1, 2009.  I will be posting more details, including the Course Agenda, in the very near future.

Second Byte - The Columbus Bar News Bytes

The Columbus Bar Association (CBA), as a benefit to its members, publishes Columbus Bar News Bytes. The CBA asked me to share my personal experience with internet marketing.  The article was divided into two parts.  The second part discusses social networks, Twitter, and more.  If you missed the first part you can find it here.

Probate Law Institute (PLI) Agenda Set - Part I The Charitable Lead Trust

In a recent Wall Street Journal investment article, the reporter covered the use of a charitable lead trust (CLT) and the benefit of doing so in a depressed economy.  [We covered this topic in a blog post last year]. Coincidentally, the Wall Street Journal article provided an example of the use of such a trust right here in good old Columbus, Ohio.  The charitable portion of the trust is handled through a donor-advised fund with The Columbus Foundation.

What does this have to do with the Probate Law Institute?  Everything.  Brad Britton, Director of Planned Giving with The Columbus Foundation is presenting a section on The Current Benefits of Planning with Charitable Lead Trusts.  I will be posting more details, including the Course Agenda, in the very near future.

Columbus Bar Association News Bytes

The Columbus Bar Association (CBA), as a benefit to its members, publishes Columbus Bar News Bytes. The CBA recently asked me to share my experience (albeit limited) with websites, blogs, and social networks.  The first of a two part article appears here. Feel free to let me know your comments.